Spelter furnace condenser support



July 26, 1932. M SKmNER 1,868,589

SPELTER'FURNACE CONDENSER SUPPORT Filed Dec. 24. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1jmeniar:

Max: /0/ O/ESTEE 5K/N/VEE,

WWW KW July 26, 1932. sKmNER 1,868,589

SPELTER FURNACE CONDENSER SUPPORT Filed Dec. 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Mme/0N 07 557752 6K/N/v5e,

Patented July 26, 1932 MARION CHESTER SKINNER, F DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR'TO THE AMERI- CAN STEEL AND WIRE COMPANY OF JERSEY 1-IE"W-JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW SPELTER. FURNACE CONDENSER surromApplication filed. December 24; 1930. Serial no, 564,591.

This invention relates broadly to zinc distillation or spelter furnacesof the horizontal.

or substantially horizontal retort type and more particularly to animproved form of condenser support for use in such furnaces. Heretoforeit has been common accepted practice to use as standard equipment in theabove type of furnace what are generally termed a front plate and afront plate casting, the front plate having been formed of refractorymaterial such as fire clay and served as a support for the front or openends of a pair of retorts, while the front plate casting was formed ofcast iron and served as a support for the condensers and also as a bracefor the buckstays.

When installed, the front plate was supported on the shoulders of thepillars'on each side of the couple and extended outward from 2 under theopen ends of the retorts generally about a distance of six inches andconnected with the front plate casting by a lap joint, the two forming ashelf say, for example, about thirteen inches wide. This shelf type ofsupport was open to numerous objections, among which was theaccumulation of charge and excess luting material under and around thecondenser, the removal of which was a very hot and laborious task; thesheltering 80 effect of the shelf with respect to the condenser, thuspreventing uniform distribution over the entire length of the condenserof the heat radiated from the furnace front; the cost of constructionand installation and rapid deterioration.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing objectionable features byeliminating the shelf'formed by the front plate casting and front plateand in place of these parts utilizes as a support for the condenser anopen type construction which serves as a brace for the buckstays, whilethe frontplate which serves as a support for the front ends of theretorts is of materially less width than the old type of plate so thatit does not extend outward beyond the open ends of the retorts.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in View, theinvention consists in the preferred construction and arrangesupport.

ment of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter describedand claimed,

To gain an understanding of; one particular type of construction whichmay be adopted in carrying out the features of the invention, referenceis had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure lis a sectionalelevation of partof a spelter furnace showing a preferred type of theimproved condenser support installed therein; V Figs. 2*and 3 aresectional views taken.

Fig.1. 1 I 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail partly in section showingone of'thecondensers' in elevation and resting on the grasshopper -Thereference numeral 5 designates the rear refractory wall ofthe furnace,and 6 the retorts, which are supported at their rear ends on ledgesbuilt in said wall and at their front ends are supported on plates 7which rcst on shouldersS formed on the furnace Theplates' 7,in'contradistinction to the old type of support, are materially reducedrespectively, on the lines I I II and III* -III,

in width so that they do not extend outwardly (to any material extent)beyond the open ends of theretorts and under the condenser 10, as willbeclearly seen in Fig. 1.

The preferred construction and methodof 8 installation of the condensersupports is clearly shown in Fig. 2. These supports are generallyindicated at 12 and, as shown in the present instance, each support consists of two bars 1%, preferably of steel and set a suitable distanceapart, depending upon the width of the buckstays 13, said bars beingtied together by cross bars 12". These bars may be of any desired numberand shape, their shape as here shown being one round and one square, thesquare bar being positioned in front and having the usual angle ironprop or what is termed the fgrasshopper 14lresting thereon, the frontend of the condenser resting on said prop. At each end the bars 12 aresupported on lugs 15 which may form part of the buckstays l3 and serveas a brace for the latter.

The foregoing type of support entirely eliminates the objectionableshelf feature present in the old support and prevents the accumulationof charge and excess lut-ing material under and around the condenser,and being entirely open, permits the heat radiated from the furnacefront to be more uniformly distributed over the entire length of thecondenser, thereby increasing its efficiency.

Practical experience has demonstrated that the improved support isstronger and lasts longer than the old type of support, and by its use,installation and maintenance costs can be materially reduced while atthe same time the tasks of the furnace attendants are lightened.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a spelter furnace, the combination with pairs of retorts andcondensers mounted in cooperative relation therewith, supportingshouldered pillars and reenforcing buckstays, a supporting plate foreach pair of said retorts, said plate resting at its oppositeextremities on the shoulders of said pillars with its outermost edgelying in substantially the same vertical plane as the ends of theretorts, and asupport for each pair of said condensers formed of spacedsteel bars which rest at opposite extremities on lugs forming part ofsaid buckstays.

2. In a spelter furnace, the combination with a retort and condensermounted in cooperative relation therewith, pillars and reenforcingbuckstays, said pillars being provided with shoulders, a supportingplate for said retort, said plate resting at its opposite extremities onsaid shoulder of said pillars with its outermost edge lying insubstantially the same vertical plane as the end of said retort, and asupport for said condenser formed of spaced pairs which rest at oppositeextremities on lugs forming part of said buckstays.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

MARION CHESTER SKINNER.

